THE colour of his shirt might be different these days, but not a lot else has changed about David Laws since his move from Weymouth to Portland in the summer.

He's still built like a brick outhouse, you still can't understand a word he says but, more importantly, he still knows where the back of the net is.

The former Terras legend scored twice against Blackfield & Langley at Grove Corner to take his tally to three in three games for his new club and help maintain the Blues 100 per cent start to their Wessex League campaign.

Not that it was a convincing display by any stretch of the imagination with the islanders throwing away a 2-0 lead before Laws rescued them with a little bit of magic late on.

In a game overshadowed by a serious injury to Andy Mason who was scythed down needlessly by Lee Harrison after shielding the ball out for a corner on 19 minutes, it was the Blues who started brightly.

James Reeve missed wonderful chance to put them in front when blasting over from six yards, as did Laws a few moments later.

However, they finally broke the deadlock in the 27th minute when Danny Bews released Reeve down the left and the former Bournemouth striker then cut inside, rounded advancing keeper Paul Danowski, and slotted into an empty net.

Four minutes later the Blues were two goals to the good Reeve combined with Andy Perkins on the left before knocking in a ball that looked too close the visiting keeper. But somehow Laws managed to get there ahead of Danowski and find the target with the very slightest of touches.

Blackfield began to threaten just before the break and were unlucky to have what appeared a perfectly good goal disallowed on 40 minutes for offside.

Blues gloveman Paul Myers then pulled off a great stop to deny Steve Wheatland seconds before the interval, but the busy midfielder got his revenge by reducing the deficit with a close range strike on 49 minutes.

Danowski kept his side in it by tipping Reeve's glorious 30-yard volley on to the post at the other end and he also had to be alert to beat out Laws' five-yard toe poke.

Those missed opportunities were set to prove costly for Portland when Jason Hurst fired in a shock equaliser for the Hampshire outfit nine minutes from time. But cometh the hour, cometh Laws to what Laws does best.

A scorching run and cross by Perkins saw the striker collect the ball on the edge of the six-yard box with back to goal and, it appeared, little hope of getting a shot on target. However, it was pure muscle that saw him hold off a serious of attempted tackles and then he suddenly swung round and smacked a left foot thunderbolt that Danowski didn't even see.

The hosts then survived a nervous last five minutes as Blackfield searched in vain for a leveller, but it was all over when Harrison was dismissed in injury time after picking up a second yellow card for a wild challenge on Bews.

Portland boss Nick Preston said: "We played some football in the first half but, like so many time last season, we went off the boil in the second period. Fortunately Lawsy got us out of jail but we need to improve on that performance.

"Losing Andy Mason was a blow. He's done some ligament damage and will now be out for a while although he is due to start a long ban on September 1."

Blues: Myers, Bews, Reader, J Dailey, Wallis, Evans (L Dailey 81mins), Whalley, Perkins, Laws, Reeve, Mason (Turrell 19mins). Sub not used: Preston.

Attendance: 125

n Portland will be without Chris Evans for today's clash with Lymington and New Milton at Grove Corner (3pm).

The midfielder is unavailable for the game along with injured quartet Andy Mason, Alan Rodgers, Mark Carter and Darren Tizard. Chris Naylor is added to squad after recovering from a toe problem.